Grab the Regressor by the Collar and Debut!

Chapter 351. Admiration and Salvation (10)

[System Alert: Colleague ‘Dan Haru’ shows a high response rate (97.1%).]
[System Alert: ‘Will to Live’ has a positive effect on colleague ‘Dan Haru’.]
[System Alert: Colleague ‘Dan Haru’s condition is stabilizing.]

‘Good job. You’ve done well.’

[System Alert: Successfully apprehended the ‘Returning One’ (Time Manager No.12).]
[System Alert: The system will be temporarily unavailable due to processing.]

‘Alright. I’ll handle things here. You’ve worked hard too.’

I nodded slightly at the notification windows that Thirteen kept popping up. I was careful not to make any big gestures since the youngest, who was still holding onto me, was sobbing uncontrollably.

‘Why the hell did that bastard Dolja have to drag the kid into a stinking bathroom to torment him….’

If he had to do it, couldn’t he have at least picked a fragrant flower field?

As I entertained such pointless thoughts, I noticed that Thirteen, who said he was leaving, was still lingering near my field of vision. Wondering if there were more notifications, I glanced over, but no, he seemed to be stuck in a loading phase (…). Finally, his next message popped up.

[System Alert: Uh….]

‘Yeah, what is it?’

[System Alert: I have something to tell you once I return.]
[System Alert: It’s not confirmed yet, so I can’t say too much….]

Surprised by Thirteen’s uncharacteristically serious tone, I couldn’t help but respond with an “Okay.”

With Sparkling back to his senses and Dolja apprehended, it seemed like nothing too serious was left to worry about. But for some reason, Thirteen’s cautious demeanor made me feel a bit on edge.

‘Well, there are still plenty of mountains left to climb.’

Just because that zombie-like Dolja was captured didn’t mean it was over. Dan Haru was still crying in front of me, and the fusion of our personalities was still ongoing. We also had to check if there were any remaining issues with the timelines Dolja had messed with….

‘What the heck, I still have a ton to do?’

Why does this freelance work never end?

With a sigh, I decided to send Thirteen on his way. I figured I’d handle the situation and then take the kid outside for some fresh air.

‘Alright. Let’s talk when you get back. I’ve got a lot to do too.’

[System Alert: Understood.]
[System Alert: Then… I’ll be off!]
[System Alert: (๑’ᵕ’๑)⸝*]

As always, the system disappeared with a cheerful emoticon. I checked the digital clock on the system lock screen (I’d set it while the system was out), then quietly handed Dan Haru a tissue as he still clung to my arm.

“Hey, Sparkly. Are you done crying?”

“…Sniff.”

The kid had become a bit cuter since he came back from the brink of death. Well, to be honest, our Haru had always been cute.

After crying his heart out for a while, he finally regained some composure. He blew his nose with the tissue I gave him, then suddenly grabbed my arm again, his eyes widening.

“…Where’s Joo Eunchan? Where is he?”

As if he’d completely forgotten about his earlier sobbing, his eyes and nose now bright red, he asked urgently. I calmly patted Haru’s hand, reassuring him.

“He’s fine.”

“…”

“No crowd gathered, Joo Eunchan wasn’t captured, and we got the stalker.”

Seeing my ability to predict the future without saying a word, Haru made a dumbfounded expression for the first time in a while.

But here’s the thing: from this point on, the explanation would get long.

“I’ll kindly explain everything, but how about we step outside first? This isn’t exactly the best place for a touching post-battle story.”

* * *

How did I know it was the perfect timing for Dolja to make his move?

Well―

“I had a feeling.”

“…”

“I’m serious.”

There were plenty of clues.

1. After the last awakening incident, Seo Taehyun’s provocation, the attempt to stab Joo Eunchan, and Ji Suho’s explosion, all failed. It was about time for his cooldown period to end.
2. I had a hunch when the main personality of Dan Haru suddenly changed and the system started acting up.
3. It was suspicious that Joo Eunchan suddenly got attacked right when Dan Haru was starting to pay more attention to him.

‘Besides, for a kid who had struggled with panic disorder and social phobia in his past life, showing up at a crowded amusement park? Even a villain would think it’d be a waste not to cause trouble at a time like this.’

Still, the biggest clue came from an unexpected source.

“…Lee Yugeon?”

“Yeah. When I met him earlier, he said something was off about Joo Eunchan.”

I recalled what had happened.

Just after riding the bumper cars and merry-go-round, a half-fainted Lee Yugeon grabbed my wrist while Seo Taehyun went to get water and said:

– Hyung.
– Yeah?
– …Try not to leave Joo Eunchan alone.
– Why? Something wrong with him?
– When I saw him during the opening shoot, something was weird about his eyes. When Yu and I were younger, he’d sometimes look like that in crowded places. Joo Eunchan’s been through a lot lately… I feel like something might happen if you leave him alone in such a crowded place.

Due to their position in the lineup, Joo Eunchan was on the far right, and Lee Yugeon on the far left, so they were facing each other. That must be how he noticed something was off.

“He’s such a peculiar guy. Seemingly indifferent but oddly attentive.”

Updating my impression of Lee Yugeon, I mixed the lukewarm chicken mayo rice bowl in front of me. It had been somewhat warm when I arrived, but it had cooled off by the time I came back after comforting Dan Haru in the bathroom.

“Here, eat up, youngest.”

I pushed the mixed rice bowl toward Dan Haru and started mixing the second one. While my hands were busy mixing, I continued talking.

“I boosted the GPS and danger sensors installed in Joo Eunchan’s system after we split up for the invitation shoot. Just in case, Thirteen was monitoring everything through CCTV mode.”

“Thirteen… what?”

“Yeah, something like that. And the crowd control was tight, thanks to Hyung Wook and the production team hiring double the usual security. Also….”

“…Then, the stalker?”

“Prepare to be amazed.”

I paused dramatically, stopping my rice-mixing hands to announce in a serious tone.

“We caught him thanks to a Desty fan’s tip.”

“What?”

“You know how they were all zooming in their phone cameras to get close-up shots of Eunchan, right?”

“…”

“One fan, who was just watching from afar, saw something suspicious in her photos and reported it to the staff. She said the guy had been following Joo Eunchan around and looked shady. But they couldn’t take him down unless they caught him in the act, right?”

“…So―.”

“So, they tipped off Eunchan, stuck close to him, and gave the stalker a small opening. He lunged right in, and they nabbed him on the spot. He’s now with the police. The detective said there’s a 125% chance it’s the same guy.”

“…”

At that, Dan Haru wore a rather strange expression.

It was as if he’d just realized that a lottery ticket he didn’t expect to win had actually won.

I knew that expression all too well, so instead of teasing him, I just chuckled as I took a big bite of the chicken mayo.

“See, there’s still some decency left in humanity, isn’t there?”

I spoke lightly, but I knew that this situation had a shadow to it, one that wasn’t too different from what Dan Haru had experienced.

Still, I didn’t feel the need to delve into those shadows for Dan Haru. Compared to the future he had witnessed, they were insignificant, and I didn’t want to shatter the fragile sense of hope he’d finally managed to recharge.

Sometimes, it’s necessary to view the world a bit more vaguely.

‘If there’s one shadow worth mentioning, it’s that we were a little late in realizing that Dan Haru himself was under attack.’

That was the one thing Thirteen and I had missed.

We had been late to notice that Dolja had dragged Dan Haru into an unconscious space and was subtly threatening him. Thirteen had been so preoccupied with Eunchan’s situation that he hadn’t noticed sooner. At least, that’s what I initially thought. But in hindsight, Thirteen’s reaction seemed a bit off.

‘Maybe what Thirteen wanted to tell me later is related to that?’

Ah, forget it. I’ll think about it when Thirteen gets back.

For now, I shoved another spoonful of the chicken mayo into my mouth. Dan Haru, who had been watching me silently as I ate, finally picked up his spoon and began to eat as well.

“Here, drink some orange juice while you eat. You need to recharge your sugar levels.”

“…”

Instead of giving me his usual annoyed glare, Dan Haru quietly nodded. We didn’t exchange any more

words after that, eating our meal in silence. By the time the staff started cleaning up their equipment, it seemed like they were moving to the concert venue.

Soon, Hyung Wook, who was also helping clear the area, approached us.

“Hey guys, the others are already at the concert hall, having dinner and getting ready. The crowd here has mostly cleared up, so when you’re done eating, let’s head over in the moving cart. I’ve arranged with Dreamland to borrow one.”

“Okay, hyung. And, Eunchan… is he alright?”

“Oh, yeah. He was a bit shaken at first, but after resting with the others, he seems fine. Just in case, I’ve delayed tomorrow’s schedule.”

“Thanks, hyung.”

Hyung Wook smiled and patted my shoulder, like my gratitude was no big deal. He also offered a word to Dan Haru, who was still silently eating across from me.

“The PDs were raving about your interview today, Haru. Said you did really well. Our youngest is impressive. Eat up, and if you need more, we’ve got snacks too.”

“…Yes.”

“Good, good. I’ve got to step out to take a call. When you’re done, wait for me, and we’ll head out.”

Once Hyung Wook left with another reminder, silence returned to the table. I checked around, confirming that no one seemed to be paying us any attention. Only then did I open my mouth again.

Even though the system’s filtering function was still in place, I couldn’t help but be cautious while Thirteen was out of commission.

“…About Eunchan’s panic disorder and other issues, they’ve mostly been erased along with the events from the past timelines.”

“…Thirteen, that guy, did that?”

“Yeah. It’s hard to explain everything in detail, but let’s just say I’ve also recruited a colleague for mental care. So, you don’t have to worry about him suffering from his past life anymore. Unless he develops something new in this timeline, we’re in the clear.”

Even with my somewhat vague explanation, Dan Haru nodded quietly.

Everything up to this point had been within my expectations, so explaining it wasn’t too difficult.

‘The problem is what I have to say now….’

It wasn’t a huge issue, but I wasn’t sure how Dan Haru would take it, which made it a bit tricky. But since we’d be seeing Joo Eunchan soon, I couldn’t just let him find out on the spot.

After shoving the last spoonful of chicken mayo into my mouth, I washed it down with a gulp of orange juice. Only then did I muster the courage to speak.

“So, anyway… things went pretty well overall. No, I mean, everything went well.”

“…?”

“There was just one unexpected variable. I thought I should tell you in advance.”

At my dramatic lead-in, Dan Haru looked up at me curiously. In the past, those eyes would’ve radiated a sharp, cynical glare, but now they seemed softer—more like Sparkling Haru.

‘Hopefully, Sparkling Haru’s personality has returned too.’

With that thought, I finally got to the point.

“Do you remember the Director? How, when the timelines were deleted, he ended up remembering everything from the past timelines where you first met?”

“…No way.”

Dan Haru’s expression slowly hardened, as if he knew what I was about to say.

I nodded silently in response.

“…Eunchan remembers everything too. The events from the past timelines.”

“…”

“Joo Eunchan has awakened. So now, he knows that you’re a regressor.”

Joo Eunchan had learned everything.

Hearing this, Dan Haru could only sit there, staring blankly in silence.